Fiery, animated, and ever-expressive NCAA WBB head coach. If I said these words to you, who would come to your mind? For most, it would be the third-year coach of the LSU Lady Tigers– Kim Mulkey. The Hall of Famer has never turned down an opportunity to get her point through. And if that means going on a mini war, well then, she’ll do that too. Ejection from the sidelines? A technical call? Nothing would come in her way at that point as she would rather help out her players on the hardwood.

Just last year in the SEC Tournament against Kentucky, the Lady Tigers were down by 12 points. Khayla Pointer took the floor at a three-point attempt with just 2 minutes left. The reason? Jazmine Massengill of the Wildcats. With no call against the Cat, Mulkey wasn’t having it. She barged onto the court and let the referee know her frustration. What followed was a technical foul to her name. However, it’s hard not to ignore that this behavior is rooted in the love she has for her team which she once described as, “I’m going to protect my players — always. They are like a family.”

But her most recent appearance in LSU’s quarterfinal SEC tournament win was far from what we know her as. Turns out, it was her family that made Kim Mulkey quietly sit on the bench as her team fought on and the Tigers’ associate head coach Bob Starkey handled the game. It wasn’t until ESPN’s live game broadcast that broke the story for the Baton Rouge fans.

Cory Diaz, LSU women’s basketball reporter for USA Today, shared the news on X: “According to the broadcast, Kim Mulkey has had an unexpected death in the family and that she’s been away from the team.”

In the broadcast, ESPN’s game caller Caroline Peck mentioned what was going on with Mulkey. “Kim Mulkey got to Greenville today. On Monday, she got the news of an unexpected death in her family. She has been away, taking care of her family. She told me that she’s going to be on the bench, but she’s probably not going to be the Kim Mulkey that we’re used to seeing because she’s still dealing with that.

“Kim told me when she first got a head coaching job at Baylor, she told them, ‘If I had to choose between basketball and family, it’s going to be about family.’ So she’s been away, taking care of her family, going through this grief. It’s been Bob Starkey who has prepared this team for the SEC tournament.”

Per Peck, Mulkey was away for the entire week and Starkey prepared the team for the SEC showdown, although with some guidance from Mulkey over calls. The team flew to Greensville on Wednesday, but the HC did not until the day of on Friday.

Despite Mulkey’s absence, LSU was in complete control of the game, leading Florida 53-34 at halftime. However, the bigger story was the personal loss that had kept their head coach away in the crucial lead-up to the SEC tournament.

Later, it was revealed that a close family friend had passed away, hence the unexpected news took Mulkey by a shock. Jacques Doucet, Director WAFB TV Sports, tweeted, “I’ve been told it was a very close family friend of @LSUwbkb Kim Mulkey that recently passed. A friend that goes all the way back to Mulkey’s days as a student at Louisiana Tech in Ruston. #LSU”

A proud Kim Mulkey, who saw her team take the lopsided victory in her and Flau’jae Johnson’s absence, addressed the media in the post-game presser. “My week was awful. My mind still isn’t good. I don’t feel good, first of all. But we all deal with death. I’ve dealt with a stillborn grandchild, but I was prepared for that. We’re prepared for our parents, for our grandparents. It’s the unexpected ones that throw you for a loop. I was where I was supposed to be.”

The 2023 NCAA champion HC even clarified how being with her team did not exactly help her feel better when a reporter asked the question on similar lines. Mulkey said, “No. I love this game great of basketball but it’s not more important than the time it takes to heal from an unexpected death

“What I didn’t want is to be a distraction and I don’t think I was. I was the biggest cheerleader and I was able to sit in the middle of the bench and was able to communicate with players. I wasn’t coming in and taking over. I told Bob before the game, ‘You are coaching tonight.’ He had all week to prepare our team. … Only time heals your heart.”

Starkey, who re-joined LSU again in 2022 with Mulkey, didn’t take the spotlight either, only showing how closely knit the LSU family really is. After giving credits to the players, he mentioned,

Leaving the team in Starkey’s capable hands wasn’t a tough decision—it was a testament to the trust she’s placed in him throughout their time together.

Mulkey’s absence, Starkey’s leadership: How LSU rallied for their coach

A seasoned assistant coach with deep ties to LSU, Starkey ensured the Tigers remained locked in, keeping their focus where it belonged. Mulkey’s faith in her staff has long been a defining trait of her leadership. Back in December 2024, she had spoken candidly about the value of assistant coaches, acknowledging their role in a head coach’s longevity.

“The older I get, the more I realize that the Bob Starkeys of the world keep me in coaching longer. I can leave right now and take a deep breath... Because those assistants can get you fired, or they can make you look great. When I say fired, it means you’re not winning, that means you are not getting players, that means you are not recruiting players.”

Her trust, and Starkey’s work was clearly visible in the Lady Tigers’ matchup today. Not only did they manage a smooth win, they also broke records. Aneesah Morrow notched 36 points and 14 rebounds, breaking their assistant coach and WNBA legend Seimone Augustus’ record. It was also most points for the program in a SEC Tournament game. Moreover, the team’s final 101 points were also their first in a SEC Tournament. 

Mulkey’s journey has given her a firsthand appreciation for the work behind the scenes. She began her coaching career as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, spending 15 years helping the program achieve a staggering 430–68 record before stepping into a head coaching role. That experience shaped her philosophy—great programs are built not just on talent, but on the people who support it.

Despite her grief, Mulkey made the effort to be there for her team, showing up even when stepping away entirely would have been understandable. If LSU wins under Starkey’s leadership, they will face No. 1 Texas in the semifinals of the SEC on March 8.